8th Grade Project Editing

For my 8th grade project, I made a snowboarding video. After I had finished all the filming I had about two hours of raw footage to work with. I started working on my laptop with the program Windows Movie Maker. After I got pretty far with editing my video, I realized the program I was using did not have adjustable audio (I could not go from music to the audio from the camera). I decided to restart on the computer at school which had the program iMovie '08. After I got pretty far in that I realized that iMovie was unable to produce visual effects (like slow motion). Unfortunately olny iMovie '08 ( the one I was using) was the only iMovie that did not have slow motion. I then had to make the decision whether to use iMovie and not have slow motion, or use Movie Maker and not have audio going from music to audio from the camera. I decided to use Movie Maker. I spent the next few weeks choosing which jumps I was going to keep because my video was too long. After that, I had to re-arrange the order that the jumps and rails show in. I did this because if there were too many of the same jump or rail in a row, it did not look good. After I finished doing that, I had to put nice transitions inbetween each jump so it looked nice. I then went to re-arraning it again so it looked good with the music (which by the way took a really long time to pick out). Thoose were the main things I did when I was editing my snowboarding video.

Did you stand up straight but stay relaxed?
It looks like a stood up straight. I am not sure if it looks like I looked relaxed.


Did you pause for a moment before you began your speech?
I don't think I really paused before I began. I can't be sure though because the video starts right when I start speaking.


Did you look at your audience?
I think I looked at the audience a lot. I did not look at the the whole time though because I had to read my notes.


Did you let your facial expressions naturally reflect what you were saying?
I don't think I made any facial expressions at all. I used a few when I was talking about how cruel they were.

Did you use your hands?
I am pretty sure that I did not use my hands at all. I might have but I can't see it in the video.


Did you speak loudly enough so that everyone could hear you?
I think I spoke loud enough. I could hear myself for the entire video.


Did you change your tone to show how you felt (upset, excited) about an idea or to emphasize a point?
I did not do it to much. I might have done it a little bit when I was talking about how cruel people were.


Was your speed of delivery too fast, too slow or just right?
I think it was just right for most of the time. I think it was to slow sometimes though.

Did you practice your speech at home before giving it?
Not really, I just went over what I was going to say in my head. I think if I had it would have been better.

What did you notice that you did well in your speech?
I noticed that I did not speak to fast, which was good. I also think I talked loud.

Describe one aspect of public speaking you will work to improve?
I think I need to improve on a lot of things. The main thing is probably talking clearly, or practicing at home.

Face Metaphor

Eyes - His eyes look like small black whales
Ears - His ears look like ovals
Mouth - His mouth looks like a circle
Forehead - His forehead looks like a smooth surface
Hair - His hair looks like an eagle
Chin - His chin looks like a boat
Teeth - His teeth look like stones
Lips - His lips look like bananas
Skin - His skin looks like the color of a football

Frontier House Application

Frontier House OFFICIAL APPLICATION

Family Name: Ellis

Occupations/Schools:
Langley Middle School

Open answer questions (attach additional pages. All questions must be answered.):

What attracted you to this project?
I think that the main thing that attracts me to this project is that I would be away from where I live and I could have a new experience.

What hobbies and interests do you have?
Some of my hobbies and interests I have are, playing soccer, snowboarding, listening to music, playing video games, and watching movies.

What image do you have of pioneer living?
The image I have of pioneer living is not great. It seems like all you do is work.

What's the most challenging thing you and your family (or group) have experienced?
I am not sure.

If you were chosen what do you think you would most miss about modern life?
I think I would miss everything about modern life. If I had to choose one thing though it would be probably be watching TV.

What qualities do you and your family have that make you suited to this experience?
I think that we have good teamwork.

What skills do you have that may help you?
I am in a adventure eduacation class.


What would you hope to get out of the experience?
I would hope to learn how to live that way.

What do you think will be the most difficult challenge of pioneer life?
I think that the most difficult thing would be working and not eating very much food.

What skills would you like to learn from the experience?
How to survive wih little food.

We'd like you to tell us: What interests you about this project?
Living like a pioneer. Also learning how to live without technology.

Do you have any concerns about your participation?
I would probably get really lazy. I also would get too hungry.

How much do you know about your family history -- do you have pioneer roots?
I do not know a lot about my family history. I don't think we have pioneer roots.
How did you hear about Frontier House?
I heard about it in school. My teacher made me watch it.

A Memory

A memory
Is a gateway
When you forget the memory
The gate is closed
And you are trapped in a cage
The cage of present life
When you remember
The gate is open
And you can travel
When you remember
A bad memory
The gate closes
And you can not

Return to the cage
When you remember
A happy memory
The gate stays open
You are able to travel
Through happiness
And you may return
If you choose

River Ellis

Intimate Conversation Poem

Dear Gerbils
Remember all the times
We had together?
Remember all the things
I bought
For you?
You were like Friends

I am sorry
For what happened
So very sorry.

River Ellis

This is Just to Say

I am sorry
I broke
your nose
It felt like
Breaking a twig
There was
A ton of blood

I hope
You forgive me
I am sure
It was painful
I just want you
To know
I am not paying
The hospital bill

River Ellis

Riddle Poem

I am a sword
I come in many colors
I shine bright
I am red when evil
I am fictional
I make noise
What am I?

(Highlight for answer)
a lightsaber

What If Poem

What if your life was a dream?
What would happen when you woke up?
What would you do?
You could try to follow your dream
Or you could learn from you flaws
You could do the opposite
How would you forget about it
And just live life

River Ellis

Sci-Fi Monster Descriptive Paragraph

This is a paragraph about Lil' Monsta. From top to bottom this is what the monster looks like. It has two horn, the horns are on the edge of the top of the head. Each horn starts straight then curves to the outside into a half circle. The head is a oval shape and the chin looks more like a square. The two eyes are in the position of human eyes. Each eye looks like a water drop. The pupils are in the center of the eye and cover from top to bottom. The nose is below and in the middle of the two eyes. The nose looks like a small triangle. The mouth of the monster is open and has six teeth on top and bottom (all which look like shark teeth). Coming out of the right side of the mouth are two drops of drool. The ears are on the outside of the head, below the eyes. The body of the monster is a mix between a oval and a square. The head is in front of the body as if were leaning toward you. There are two arms both are raised up. At the end of each arm is a hand with four fingers. Each finger has a long nail. At the bottom of the body are two legs that look like chicken legs. Both of the legs have bent knees. Where the legs meet the body there is also a tail that comes out of the right side of the monster. The tail is verticle to the mosters side. At the end of the tail there is an arrowhead looking spike and there are small spikes along the whole tail. The two feet are at the bottom of the legs. Each foot has three toes. The entire moster is orange except for the horns the mouth and the eyes. Those are colored gray. That is the description of Lil' Monsta.

NFL Playoffs

The NFL playoffs are back! This year the 8 teams in the Wild-Card were the Atlanta Falcons, the Arizona Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens, the Miami Dolphins, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings, the San Diego Chargers, and the Indianapolis Colts. On Saturday January 3 the Falcons played the Cardinals and the Colts played the Chargers. The Cardinals beat the Falcons and the Chargers beat the Colts. On Sunday January 4 the Ravens played the Dolphins and the Eagles played the Vikings. The Ravens beat the Dolphins and the Eagles beat the Vikings.

In the Divisional playoff round the 8 teams left were the Arizona Cardinals, the Carolina Panthers, the Baltimore Ravens, the Tennessee Titans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the San Diego Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. On January 10 the Ravens played the Titans and the Cardinals played the Panthers. The Panthers lost to the Cardinals and the Ravens beat the Titans. On Sunday January 11 the Eagles played the Giants and the Steelers played the Chargers. The Eagles beat the Giants and the Steelers beat the Chargers.

The 4 teams moving on to the Conference round are the Eagles, the Steelers, the Ravens and the Cardinals. Im voting for the Philadelphia Eagles! My prediction for the Super Bowl is Eagles vs. Steelers. Who are you voting for?