May 29- June 5

This week in math students worked on solving problems involving probability. Students learned how to represent probability as a fraction, and how to show it on a number line between 0 and 1. Students also learned how to represent probability as a decimal and percent. Finally, we worked on the skill of predicting, or extrapolating results using probability. 

In language students continued to read and write poetry. On Monday we had a spoken word artist visit our classroom to do a workshop with the students. Here's a clip of one of her poems, entitled, "Tomboy" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlHgwctZA8A. Students worked on the skills of writing and performing their poetry during the workshop, and are continuing to use those skills as we move forward in poetry. Many thanks to the parent council for funding this workshop!

In social studies we looked at several clips about First Nations issues, past and present. Students learned about some of the negative consequences of explorations, both short term and long term. We read a book entitled, "Cheyenne Again," and learned about residential schoos and their impact on First Nations culture. The students then wrote poety on the topic of First Nations issues. Their poetry shows a deep understanding of the issues and consequences. Students also began to work on writing the paragraphs for their social studies project. Together we co-created success criteria for the paragraphs and for the art/poetry component of their project. 

In art students learned about a famous Canadian arist named, Roy Vickers. I chose  Vickers because he is similar to a character from our read aloud book, War of the Eagles, in that his heritage is half Tsimshian and half English.  Here is a clip of him talking about different choices of media: http://www.royhenryvickers.com/rhv_media.  After learning about the artist students created works of their own in the style of Roy Vickers. 

Finally, good luck to Julia, Beatrice, Ellie, Noelle and Isobel, who are going to sing with the Williamson Road choir for the Governor General! 

Important upcoming dates:

Thursday, June 4th: pool

Friday, June 5th: PA day

Friday, June 19th: graduation

Homework for this week:

There is no homework folder homework for this week. Students need to continue to read daily for at least 20 minutes each day, and continue to work on their notes if they felt there were gaps. Most students are finished their notes. Students also need to gather any necessary materials for their artifact piece, if that is their chosen art form, by Thursday. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

May 22-29

This week in math students completed a unit on measurement and wrote a final quiz that covered all the measurement topics. That quiz went home today to be signed and returned for Tuesday. We started our final math unit, which is on probability. 

In language students continued to read and write poetry. Students shared their poems during author's chair, and learned how to identify and use personification, similes and metaphors in their writing.  We also watched a spoken word artist present his work and discussed why his presentation was so effective. Here is the link for that poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTZrPVqR0D8. 

In social studies we looked at several clips about the history of Canada and discussed which source was the best and why. Students took notes while watching the clips in order to practise their listening and summarizing skills. 

In art students finished their Keith Haring works of art, which are displayed in the hall outside our room. 

Important upcoming dates:

all week: bike/ walk to school week
Monday, May 25th: spoken word artist visit

Thursday, May 28th: pool

Homework for this week:

There is no homework folder homework for this week. Students need to continue to read daily for at least 20 minutes each day, and continue to work on their notes if they felt there were gaps. Most students are finished their notes. Students also need to brainstorm  and/ or research for the art/ poem/song component of their project, which we will begin on Wednesday in class. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Social Studies Project

Social Studies Project- Grade 5

Learning task: Research and report on a significant group or person from the First Nations or European Explorers.

All work will be modeled in class. Students can do research and final drafts at home, but the majority of the work is to be completed at school. We will create success criteria as a class as components are taught and modeled.

Presentation choice: bristol board, shoe box, power point or prezzie, duotang

Tasks:

1) Answer the following questions in paragraph form. Use 3 separate paragraphs.

a) The facts

Who are they? Describe.

Where did they come from and where did they settle? Or, where did they live in Canada?

When did they come to Canada? or When did they meet Europeans?

Why did they come to Canada? (explorer) What was life like? (First Nations)

b) Consequences

What happened when they met the other group? What were the positive and negative consequences?

c) Connections to Today

How is the interaction connected to present day issues in Canada? What were the long-term consequences?

How did the person or group contribute to Canadian identity?

2) Map. Include a map of the country where your chosen group is from. The map must be coloured neatly and labeled appropriately. 

3) Diary entry from the perspective of the person you’re researching, explaining their point of view and describing an event that has taken place. This will be presented in role.

4) Art: choose one of the following.

a) Create a visual art piece to be displayed in a gallery or museum that is typical of your chosen group and the time.

b) Create a poem or song that conveys the ideas and experiences of your chosen group.

5) Bibliography

Possible groups or people: Champlain,  Cartier, Hudson, Cooke, Forbisher, De Monts, Etienne Brule, Ojibway, Abenaki, Algonkin, Haudenosaunee, Ojibwe, Ottawa, Potawatomie, Wendat, Weskarini; Beothuk, Innu, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Wolastoqiyik, Courier des bois, Donnaconna, Filles du Roi, First nations women

Missionairies

Social Studies Project- Grade 6

Learning task: Research and report on a significant group of people who settled Canada.

All work will be modeled in class. Students can do research and final drafts at home, but the majority of the work is to be completed at school. We will create success criteria as a class as components are taught and modeled.

Presentation choice: bristol board, shoe box, power point or prezzie, duotang

Tasks:

1)Answer the following questions in paragraph form. Use 3 separate paragraphs.

a) The facts

Who are they? Describe.

Where did they come from and where did they settle?

When did they begin to settle in Canada?

Why did they come to Canada?

b) Consequences

What happened when they tried to settle? What were the positive and negative consequences?

c) Connections to Today

How has your group contributed to Canadian identity?

2) Map. Include a map of the country where your chosen group is from. The map must be coloured neatly and labeled appropriately.

3) Diary entry from the perspective of the person you’re researching, explaining their point of view and describing an event that has taken place. This will be presented in role.

4) Art: choose one of the following.

a) Create a visual art piece to be displayed in a gallery or museum that is typical of your chosen group and the time.

b) Create a poem or song that conveys the ideas and experiences of your chosen group.

5) Bibliography

Possible people:

First Nations, French, English, Chinese, Metis, Inuit, Japanese Canadians, Acadians, Germans, Scandinavians, South Asians, Carribean peoples, Black Loyalists, Ukranians, Irish, Scottish

May 15- May 22

This week in math students continued to learn about measurement, and learned how to find the volume of irregular objects by measuring their water displacement in mL, then converting that to cm cubed. Students worked in their table groups to estimate then measure objects around the room using graduated cylinders. There will be a final measurement quiz on Friday that will include all of the expectations for this unit, including conversions, perimeter, area, volume, capacity and surface area for grade 6s. 

In language students continued to read and write poetry. Students shared their poems during author's chair, and wrote poems using the poetic device, "onomatopoeia." We also started another read aloud novel, entitled, " War of the Eagles," by Eric Walters. 


In science students became consultants for the Ministry of Environment and were asked to choose which type of energy the government should invest in. Students read and analysed posters made by rm. 28 students in order to make their decision. The class chose wind, solar and hydro power. 

In social studies students chose their research topics and began to research and take notes. Research notes will be due next Thursday, when we will begin to write paragraphs in class. 

In art we looked at the American artist Keith Haring, who used his art to speak out about social justice issues. We then created our own Keith Haring inspired works of art about a social justice issue. 

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, May 18th: Victoria Day- no school

Thursday, May 21st: research notes due; pool
Friday, May 22nd: math quiz on measurement

Homework for this week:

There is no homework folder homework for this week. Students need to continue to read daily for at least 20 minutes each day, and complete their point form research notes by next Thursday. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

May 8- May 15

This week in math students continued to learn about measurement, and solved problems involving volume. Students worked in their math partners to estimate and measure the volume and capacity of our classroom. 

In language students continued to read and write poetry. We are integrating our final inquiry on art and social justice into our language program. We have delved into many different issues, such as homelessness, environmental awareness and bullying. This week we read a blog written by the mother of a transgendered child to further our understanding of human rights. We then used the key words and feelings in the text to create poetry on the topic. The students are working on showing empathy in their writing, and they were very successful with this task. The poetry was so good, and showed such a profound sense of empathy that I showed it to several colleagues and our principal, who were all very impressed! 

On Thursday we visited the Evergreen Brickworks for the Kids World of Energy Festival. Students engaged in hands-on activities that complimented the grade 5 and 6 science curriculums. 

On Friday all of our grade 4-6 students watched a theatre presentation of an adaptation of Mozart's The Magic Flute. The presentation was an opera in French and English, and was a great opportunity for students to practise their inference skills. 

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, May 11th: track and field at Birchmount for track team members

Wednesday, May 13th: pool

Thursday, May 14th: Scholastic book fair shopping (Please send money with your child on Thursday if you would like him/her to buy a book.)

Monday, May 18th: Victoria Day- no school

Homework for this week:

There is no homework folder homework for this week. Students need to continue to read daily for at least 20 minutes each day. 

On Tuesday, May 12th students will be given a social studies project. Most of the project will be completed at school. However, due to our computer limitations, students may need to complete some research notes at home. I will post the project and the co-constructed success criteria as the project progresses. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

May 1- May 8

This week in math students continued to learn about measurement, and solved problems involving perimeter and area. There will be a quiz on Tuesday on metric conversions, perimeter and area.  

In language students we began a new unit on poetry. Students are going to create a collection of their own poems over the next few weeks. They will present their poetry in author's chair and at a class poetry cafe next month. Students also used the strategy of text coding to show their understanding of an narrative story that was read aloud, entitled, "Geraldine Moore, The Poet." In guided reading we have read a variety of texts, from hybrid cars and solar power to poetry. 


Student's science projects will go home today. I was really impressed with the class' creativity and problem solving skills, as well as their Dragon's Den pitches. 

We have started a final inquiry on art and social justice. We're asking questions like, "How does art tell the story of people?" and "How can we use art to express ourselves and our opinions?" This unit will be integrated, pulling together art, social studies and language. This week we visited the Fox theatre to see how a director used film as his medium to speak out about the environment in the documentary, "The Dark Side of the Chew."

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday, May 5th: math quiz

Wednesday, May 6th: pool, spring concert (Please be in room 21 by 6:45.)

Thursday, May 7th: field trip to Brickworks (dress for the weather and bring a litterless lunch)

Friday, May 8th: homework due

Homework for this week:

1) math: area

2) "Trail Blazers" text and writing practice

3) Read!!!

Best, 

B. Davidson