Grade 6 Electricity Project

Grade 6's are working on an electricity project. The goal is to build a device, toy or game. The success criteria was created by the students, and is above. I have provided groups with their needed electrical components, based on their materials list in their design. (Thank you to the Parent Council for raising the money to supplement my classroom budget so that I could do this!) I ask that groups provide their own batteries. Most groups are using D batteries; one group is using 9 volt. Students will have time in class this week on Thursday and Friday and next to work on this. I prefer that most or all the work be done at school, as I want to see the process. We will aim to have groups present their projects on May 15th, barring any technical difficulties. If students need extra supplies, I bought supplies at Active Surplus Electronics at 347 Queen W. Hopefully this project will help students develop an understanding of electricity as well as inspire some future engineers, electricians or entrepreneurs! 

Grade 5 science project

Moving Along

Due:  May 1, 2014

Challenge:  To build a device or a contraption that uses 2 or more energy transformations to cause it to move at least 1 metre.  Challenge yourself and try to create something that uses more than one energy transformation to cause it to move.

You can be as creative as you like!  Some examples of devices that might work are:  making a slingshot-type device to propel something forward (kinetic energy to elastic energy to kinetic energy).  Many students are trying to create cars or trucks that use at least 2 energy transformations to help it move.

Here are some types of energy that you might be able to use for your device:

-wind energy

-elastic energy

-kinetic energy

-gravitational energy

-solar energy

What you will need to hand in:

1.     Your device.

2.     A neatly drawn diagram of your device (with labels) that clearly demonstrates what energy transformations happen to make it move.

3.     An assignment sheet which answers the following questions:

A.     What energy transformations did you use in your device?

B.     How well did your device do what you thought it would?

C.     How would you change your device to improve its performance?

D.     What did you learn about energy transformations in this activity?

Remember to have fun and be as creative you like! – Ms. McCrea

April 25- May 1

This week in math we have been working on building a drawing 3-D solids from different views, as well as using coordinate maps and translating (sliding) shapes. In language the students did an in-class writing assignment for Earth Day.  We also wrote Earth Day pledges after watching, "The Story of Stuff." We have continued to read Native Canadian legends, most of which are also "pourquoi tales," that explain how something came to be. In social studies we delved deeply into Aboriginal Issues, looking at modern issues and how these problems connect to our history. We began to discuss the impact of European exploration on Native Peoples. 

Important dates this week:
Monday, April 28th: pool and library
Tuesday, April 29th: pourquoi tale graphic organizer due

Thursday, May 1st: homework due, library, grade 5 science project due

Homework for this week:

1) Complete the math work on geometry. 

2) Read the text entitled, "Tom Longboat" and answer the questions. 

3) Complete your pourquoi tale graphic organizer. (Due Tuesday)  

4) Continue with independent reading daily- at least 20 minutes every day. 
5) Grade 5's: Complete your science project. The outline is included in the following post. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

April 17- 24

This week in math we have been working on naming 3-D solids, such as pentagonal prism, and square-based pyramid. We've also looked at their flattened-out nets and predicted which nets will make which solids. Grade 6's have also learned about percents and ratios, and how they relate to fractions and decimals. In language and drama the students have continued to work with their literature circle groups to create a skit that shows the author's message of the novel.  We also did a shared writing activity, thanking the parent council for our new technology in the class, which includes a new iPad and a document camera. In science the grade 6's designed and labelled their electricity project product. The grade 5's have begun a project on the transformation of energy. In art we reviewed colour theory through a watercolour grid project. The end results were very visually stunning and are displayed outside room 20. Congratulations to all the swimmers who competed at the city finals today! Because the pool was closed and we had no phys. ed., we did an Easter egg hunt outside for DPA, which was a fun end to the week. 

Important dates this week:
Friday, April 18th: Good Friday, no school
Monday, April 21st: Easter Monday, no school
Tuesday, April 22nd: Earth Day
Thursday, April 24th: grad photos in the AM, danceathon in the PM

Homework for this week:
In order to families to have time together over the break, I've not assigned any homework for this week, other than a little bit of math on ratios and percents for the grade 6's to complete if they didn't complete it in class. 

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

April 11-17

This week we finished our unit on decimals and will begin a second geometry unit next week. In language and drama the students are working with their literature circle groups to create a skit that shows the author's message of the novel. We also read Native Canadian legends and worked on finding the main idea. In science the grade 6's created series and parallel circuits and will design and make a device that uses a circuit. The grade 5's have continued to explore the transformation of energy. We have moved forward with our last inquiry unit, which is closely tied to social studies. We're asking, "What does it mean to be Canadian?" and "In what ways are we connected to the past?" We watched Heritage Minutes on Canada's First People and Exlorers and found the main idea of them. We also read a beautiful book called, " The Roses in my Carpets" and contrasted life in the story to our lives, in order to more clearly define life in Canada. Friday morning the students participated in our school-wide track and field day. Congratulations to all participants! 

Important dates this week:

Thursday, April 17th: homework due, pool, library
Friday, April 18th: Good Friday, no school
Monday, April 21st: Easter Monday, no school

Homework for this week:
1) Practise those times tables!!! ( Some students have these memorized well, but many do not and it is slowing down their thinking in math.)
2) Complete the math work on factors and prime and composite numbers. 
3) Update your personal spelling list and study those words.
4) Choose one piece of writing from your language notebook to publish. Create a final copy that will be displayed. 
5) Read the text entitled, "Sheila Watt-Cloutier" and answer the questions. 
6) Grade 6's: Be ready to design (draw and label) your science project on Tuesday. 
7) Continue with independent reading daily- at least 20 minutes every day. 

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

April 4- April 10

We've had another busy week in rm. 21. In math the students learned how to multiply and divide decimal numbers by 10, 100 and 1000 by moving the decimal to the right or left. You can help reinforce these concepts by pointing out real uses, like calculating how much to leave for a tip at a restaurant. In language the students met with their literature circle groups to discuss their chosen novel, which will be finished next week. We also read a non-fiction text about the invention of basketball, and had fun reading Shel Silverstein poems aloud and choosing favourites.  In science the grade 6's have begun working with electricity kits. They tested different materials for conductivity and created circuits using batteries, wire and light bulbs. The grade 5's began exploring the transformation of energy. We began our last inquiry unit, which is closely tied to social studies. We're asking, "What does it mean to be Canadian?" and "In what ways are we connected to the past?" We will explore these concepts through language, social studies and drama in the weeks to come. 

Important dates this week:


Wednesday: literature circle meeting #6 (the last one)
Thursday: homework due, pool, library
Friday: school track and field day (Students need running shoes and clothes that are appropriate for running and being outside all morning.) 


Homework for this week:
1) Practise those times tables!!!
2) Complete the math work on decimals.
3) Update your personal spelling list and study those words.
4) Finish your novel and be prepared for the last meeting with your role sheet complete.
5) In your language homework notebook, answer the following question in paragraph form. Don't forget an introduction, transition words and a conclusion.
We can categorize characters as flat or round. Flat characters don't change at all throughout the story, while round characters change. (For a review of flat and round characters, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjVlyIvLg3Q.)  Choose one character from your novel who is a round character and explain how he/she has changed since the beginning of the story. 


Best,
Bronwyn Davidson