This week we watched Star Wars: A New Hope. Joseph Campbell, the creator of the Hero's Journey, was good friends with George Lucas, and as a result Star Wars is an excellent example of the Hero's Journey. Students are now working on a project (storyboard, comic, infographic, map timeline or board game) demonstrating the connection between Star Wars and the Hero's Journey . It is due on Wednesday, November 29th. We continued learning about plants (transpiration, photosynthesis, stomata and chlorophyll), and students became experts on a topic and taught the rest of their group. Supply request: On Monday we will be starting a lab to study pond-to-forest succession over time. If you have any extra jars, bigger than 0.5 L that we could use for December, please bring them in. We can return them when we are done. In math we continued with Prime and Composite numbers and addition with decimals. We tried some bigger problems both as a group and as individuals and used a Problem Solving Rubric to evaluate our progress. Todays Weekly Review will contain questions made by the students. The students 400s chart assignment is due Monday, November 27th. We worked on learning about the Canadian parliamentary and government systems. Reminder: Skiing is Thursday! We are still looking for 1 or 2 more volunteers. If you are available, please email the school. Students are required to have their Check-Ins 5 and 6 signed and returned by Monday. They have been warned that if they do not have them back by Monday they will be calling home for assistance. I unfortunately had many missing Check-ins after the last time I sent them home. This is important report card evidence, and assists me in lesson planning, so please return them! I have a working file for each student that I constantly update. Secret Word: Elixir (and tell me the meaning too!) First person to tell me receives a prize.
This week at school we did a lot of Math!
We also created and presented to our peers posters and comics about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This morning we did a gallery walk and showcased what we learned. We investigated what is inside a tree and today we looked at slides of stems and drew what we saw (and some other cool plant structures such as anthers, spores, and leaves). Students were amazed at what they found under the microscope and it was a class full of "Oh my goodness" and "WOW"! We continued our study of picture books and learned about archetypes in stories and movies in regards to the Hero's Journey. Some students need some support with Math and Writing. To support all students in class, I am providing regular assessments to see where they are at, and provide directed support and strategies. Every week students will do a written response, and will then receive specific feedback and edits to help them improve their writing. At home, Writing/Reading and Math can be supported daily. Every week students should be bringing home their "This Week at School" Journals. This is an opportunity for parents/guardians to edit, talk about what they learned and help them with what they are struggling with. This week they should of included a struggle that they had, and I will be collecting them back on Monday to read. Additionally, I will be posting a weekly math review here on Fridays and daily math questions under the homework tab to help them practice. Reminder: No school tomorrow! Enjoy your long weekend (regular ol' weekend for me :P )
This week at school we finished up learning about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We learned about the different sections and what each section means for each of us, we considered what would happen if the Charter did not exist and what responsibilities each citizen has to uphold the Charter. We also discussed the Charter in terms of Remembrance day and reflected on what we do for the good of others and what sacrifices we make for each other. Next week students will start a project (poster or comic) to celebrate their learning. Please see attached PDF for a sneak peak of the project. The project is due November 16th. We reviewed the Scientific Method (something that the students did a lot of work on last year), explored extracting DNA from animal (our cheek) cells, and plant (fruit) cells and learned how to use a microscope. I am very excited about how engaged and interested the students were, as Science is a passion of mine. We also continued practicing our BEDMAS rules and basic computation skills. Students can practice computation questions at home, and some example questions are posted under the homework tab. Finally, we are evaluating picture books and learning about the Hero's Journey to learn how to be better narrative writers. Students will be eventually analyzing Greek mythology and writing their own Picture Books with the intention of reading and sharing them with the students of Cranston Elementary School. I hope everyone had a great weekend, and I am sorry for the late post. I was feeling a little under the weather on Friday afternoon after the ceremony.
This Week at School we focused on understanding the order of operations in math equations (BEDMAS), understanding how quality of life and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms affect our lives and the lives of others around the world, and continued reading Among the Hidden. We also wrote a practice narrative story using a picture prompt, which is the same style as the PAT, and then had our Grade 9 buddies edit and give feedback.
Examples of BEDMAS problems include: (8-5) X 3 + 4= ? 6-(4+1) x 5 = ? (4+5) x (6-1) = ? These problems can be used as practice at home. This acronym reminds students that there is an order of steps we must follow during computation. BEDMAS stands for:
As we learn about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we have been paying attention to the news, and discussed the new Bill to remove housing companies/landlords ability to have adult-only condominiums. Additionally, as we learn more about the CCRF, we will be determining the responsibilities as citizens that correspond with each Right next week. A new routine we have started is analyzing the "number of the day". Students have really started making this their own, and we are investigating questions that arise as we start looking for relationships and patterns within numbers. For example we investigated three student-made problems:
Below is a Wordle that we made that highlights the most common misspelled words that were used in their PAT practice tests. I am impressed with our classes extensive use of vocabulary, and I regularly use varied and descriptive words they may not know to expand it further. Reminders: Vocabulary words due Monday: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Collective Rights, Individual Rights, Common Good Science Fair Club starts on Monday! First meeting is after school on Monday, Nov 6 at 3:15. I really hope we get a good turn out, as I will be helping run the Science Fair club, and it is near and dear to my heart (if you need some incentive, in Grade 11 I won Peterborough's regional Science fair and won over $1000 in prizes and scholarships!) I hope everyone has a safe and cozy weekend! |