Room 21 video, 2016!

Grade 6 Grad Slideshow

June 13-29

Over the last week students presented their social studies projects. I was very impressed with the hard work that they did on their projects! Students presented their work and artifacts to the class in order to share their learning. 

In math students wrote a final math quiz that went home on Monday. There was a mark for measurement and one for probability. Students are working on finishing or playing their probability games this week and next. 

In art we had a very exciting opportunity. Students were given their own individual canvases  to paint to be displayed at the Beaches Jazzfest this summer, then hung in a Toronto hospital as a permanent installation. The students were very nervous about this, but did a wonderful job! We took a walking tour of the Beaches to take pictures and get some inspiration. Some students used those pictures, while others painted abstract paintings, or creations of their own. I will email and let everyone know where the paintings will be displayed at Jazzfest once I am informed. 

In these final days students are participating in readers' theatre groups. They will practise and present their play, either dramatized or read, next week. 

Important upcoming dates:

Grade 6 graduation: Friday, June 24th, 2PM (Grade 6s, come to the class at 12:45 if you're not attending school in the morning.)

Play day for junior students: Monday, June 27th in the afternoon (bring water, hat, running shoes)

Reports go home: Tuesday, June 28th

Last day of school: Wednesday, June 29th 

May 30- June 10

Over the last two weeks grade 6 students completed the EQAO test, while grade 5s worked with Ms. Saint on math and social studies. This week students are putting the finishing touches on thier social studies projects, which will be presented this week and next. Students are also creating a game that involves probability for math. Those games will be presented and played next week.  

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Complete your social studies final project, in whichever format you've chosen- duotang, bristol board, power point or shoe box.  

Important upcoming dates:

final math quiz: Friday, June 17th

Pool will be on Mondays for the remainder of the year. 

Grade 6 graduation: Friday, June 24th

May 25-27

This week in math students practiced calculating surface area and volume. We also began a new unit on probability. The concepts of measurement conversion, surface area, volume and probability will be on the next quiz. 

In social studies and language students continued with their project. Grade 5s are investigating a European Explorer or a First Nations group. Grade 6s are researching and reporting on an immigrant group that has contributed to Canada's identity. This project will be completed at school. Students may research at home if they wish, but there will also be time in class to research. The final project is due June 15th, with multiple due dates in between for different stages, which students have recorded in their agendas. 

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Complete your research notes for your project if they're not complete already. 

Important upcoming dates:

Wednesday, June 1-June 3: EQAO writing for grade 6s. Grade 5s will be in room 20 with Ms. Saint.  

Friday, June 3: pool, paragraph rough drafts due (to be written at school)

Mon, June 6- June 8: EQAO testing for grade 6s

May 16-20

This week in math students learned how to convert units of measurement for capacity and mass, as well as how to estimate the mass of objects. The quiz that students wrote on conversions will be returned on Tuesday. Students also learned how to calculate surface area and volume. We will be moving on to probability next week. 

Students also completed a data project in math. We collected survey results from all the junior classes at Williamson in order to find out which kinds of books to order for the library. Students used that data to create graphs, and also interpreted the data. In addition, students created one graph that used bias, in order to show a different result or an exaggerated result. 

In social studies we began a new project. Grade 5s will investigate a European Explorer or a First Nations group. Grade 6s will research and report on an immigrant group that has contributed to Canada's identity. This project will be completed at school. Students may research at home if they wish, but there will also be time in class to research. The final project is due June 15th, with multiple due dates in between for different stages, which students have recorded in their agendas. 

Homework for this week:

There will be no homework this week, due to the long weekend. Enjoy!

Important upcoming dates:

Wed., May 25th: Jump Rope for Heart
Friday, May 27th: pool, research notes for social studies due

May 9-13

This week in math students learned how to convert different units of measurement. They learned the mnemonic device "King Henry Doesn't Usually Drink Chocolate Milk," to help them remember how to convert the different units. Next week we will investigate mass and capacity. There will be a quiz on conversions on Wednesday. 

In science and language students presented their infographic on the human body and space. Students also evaluated their persuasive business letters, which will be returned next week. We will mail the letters next week. Please send a stamp with your child if he/she would like to mail their letter. 

Finally, our class performed in the spring concert. I was blown away by the talent and teamwork that the class displayed! 

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Complete the language work on editing and prefixes.

3) Complete the math work on conversions. 

Important upcoming dates:
Thursday, May 19th: pool

Friday, May 20th: homework due

May 2-6

Our week started out with a field trip to the Science Centre! Grade 6's participated in the Mission to Mars, while grade 5's learned about transformations of energy and about the human body in workshops. In our debrief back at school, students had a lot of highlights to discuss. Many thanks to our parent volunteers, Susan, Jamie, Howard and Mark, for coming with us! 

This week in math students continued to practice transforming objects, by translating, rotating and reflecting.  Students also created 3D solids from  top, side and front drawings. Grade 6's worked on creating isometric drawings of 3D shapes. Students wrote a math quiz on Thursday, which will go home to be signed on Monday. Our next unit is on measurement, including metric conversions and calculating volume.  

In language students completed their persuasive business letter. Students also began to research for a science/language mini project. Grade 5's are researching about the human body, while grade 6's are learning more about space. Both grades will create an infographic text about their chosen topic, and will present the information to the class.  

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Read the text about Roberta Bondar and answer the questions. 

3) Complete the math work on geometry. 

Important upcoming dates:

Thursday, May 12th: pool, homework due, spring concert (Start time is 6:30, and rm.     21 is performing. Please drop off students around 6:15.) 

April 25-29

This week in math students practiced transforming objects, by translating, rotating and reflecting. We also reviewed the names of 3D solids and matched the solids with their nets. Students also drew top, side and front perspectives of 3D solids. 

In language students began their outline and rough drafts of their persuasive business letter. We wrote a letter together as a class and shared the writing, revising and editing process. We will continue to work on the letters next week. The due date for the final copy is Friday, May 6th. 

We also finished our read aloud of the novel, "A Night Divided." One of the highlights of my week was witnessing the entire class chanting, "Read aloud! Read aloud!" when we were about to finish the book. It was an exciting novel, and gave us all a first hand perspective of life in East Germany in the 60's. I think that we all appreciate freedom in a new way after having read this book. 

Finally, we had a field trip to the Fox theatre where we watched an independent eco film entitled, "Chemerical." As a debrief we discussed how the film impacted us as viewers and from an environmental standpoint. Students now have a membership to Take Action films where they can watch other films made by the same producer. 

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Read the article, "Astronauts Return from Year in Space" and answer the questions.

3) Complete the math work on transformations. 

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, May 2nd: field trip to Science Centre

Thursday, May 5th: pool, math quiz

Friday, May 6th: persuasive writing due (This is being written in class, but final copies may be typed at home.)

April 18-22

This week in math students learned about the different types of transformations, including translations, rotations and reflections. In science students presented their device, toy or product that shows a transformation of energy. Students also presented their commercial to sell their device. In addition, students presented their speeches. (It was a busy week!)  I was so impressed with the students' writing and delivery!

This week we began our last inquiry of the year, which centres around the question, "What does it mean to be Canadian?" We analyzed the work of Canadian artists at the AGO and brainstormed a list of key values. Students will choose a key value and issue, and will write a persuasive business letter to a person in Canada in a position of value to try to create change. 

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Choose a topic for your letter and research if necessary. 

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday, April 26: track and field day (AM for juniors) 

Thursday, April 28: pool

Friday, April 29: Fox theatre field trip

Monday, Mar. 2: Science Centre field trip

April 11-15

This week in math students reviewed concepts in decimals and wrote a quiz on decimals. That quiz included percents and ratios for grade 6s. The quiz will be handed back to go home to be signed early next week. Our next strand will be geometry. 

In language and science students continued their project of creating a toy, device or product that transforms energy. They are also creating a commercial to sell their product. 

Students also continued to work on a speech that will be presented to the class. Students will refined their science projects, commercials and speeches during the week. They will present next week. 

On Thursday our class took a trip to the AGO. We looked at the works of various Canadian artists, including Tom Thomson and Lauren Harris. In the afternoon students participated in a workshop, creating prints. Many thanks to our parent volunteers, Howard and Tanja, for coming with us!

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Practice saying your speech so that you're ready to present on your due date. 

Important upcoming dates:

Thursday, April 21: grad photos, pool

Friday, April 29: Earth day

April 4-8

This week in math students learned how to divide decimal numbers by 10, 100, 1000 and how to use long division when dividing decimals. Grade 6s also learned how to multiply by 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001, as well as how to calculate percent and use ratios. There will be a quiz next Wednesday. The quiz will cover fractions, decimals and, for grade 6s, percent and ratios. 

In language and science students continued their project of creating a toy, device or product that transforms energy. They are also creating a commercial to sell their product. 

Students also continued to work on a speech that will be presented to the class. Students will refine their science projects, commercials and speeches next week. The following week they will present them to the class.  

Homework for this week: (Due on Wednesday, because of the field trip and PA day.)

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Complete the math.

3) Complete the comma and semi-colon practice. 

4) Practice saying your speech if you're finished writing it. (A reminder that rough drafts must be written at school.) 

Important upcoming dates:

Wed., Apr. 13: homework due, Day of Pink (Wear pink in support of anti-bullying.), math quiz

Thurs., Apr. 14: field trip to the AGO (no pool this week) 

Friday, April 15th: PA day

March 28- April 1

This week in math students learned how to add and subtract decimal numbers, as well as multiply them by 10, 100, 1000 and by another decimal number. Next week students will learn how to divide decimals. Grade 6s will learn how to multiply by 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001. 

In language and science students continued their project of creating a toy, device or product that transforms energy. I provided all the electrical equipment for the students from a store called Creatron. Students have been asked to provide additional materials, like boxes or Lego, from home. Students will continue to build their device this week. 

Students also started working on a speech that will be presented to the class. Students can choose any topic, and can choose to write to persuade, amuse or inform. They worked on brainstorming topics and creating an outline. We also read and watched several examples of speeches and evaluated the speakers. Students gave positive feedback and constructive criticism in order to develop a better understanding of how to write and deliver an effective speech. 

Homework for this week:

Homework will begin again starting on Friday, April 8th. Students need to continue to read for at least 20 minutes each day.

Important upcoming dates:

Thursday, April 7th; pool

Wed., Apr. 13: day of pink

Thurs., Apr. 14: field trip to the AGO

Friday, April 15th: PA day

March 21-24

This week in math students learned how to compare fractions to decimals, as well as round to the nearest whole number, tenth and hundredth. In language and science students began a project. They will create a toy, device or product that transforms energy, then create a TV commercial to sell it. We also looked at various media techniques that are used to sell products. In art students finished their culminating project, which is a mixed media piece that has a main idea about freedom, diversity or stereotypes. These pieces are now on display in our hall. 

Homework for this week:

There will be no homework this week. Happy Easter! 

Important upcoming dates:

There will be no pool next week, due to a swim meet. Pool will continue on Thursdays after that. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson